International music reviews

Listening to this CD will leave no doubt in ones mind that the Gallego people of Northwest Spain are Celtic in heritage, and more related to the Scots/Irish that the rest of Spain. A delight to listen to!

An American Gallego

I love this guys. They perform the galician music I love to listen. Cabo do Mundo is very similar to its predecessor, "Plenilunio", with 3 tracks lasting more than six minutes. It is not strictly traditional music, but traditional music with... The voice of Rosa Cedr�n is sweet and fits perfectly with the sounds played by the gaitas and other instruments. As I told them by mail, an outstanding cd and a light to follow. Please, don't hesitate to buy it. And Plenilunio too.

Listen to this music and...if you are like me...your will quickly come to the conclusion that this Galician music is destined for an enthusiastic worldwide audience. Proof positive that the Celtic musical tradition is vibrant and expressive in a way that few others can equal.

Slainte...from an Irish / Scot living in Boston.

I love this CD and I don't even have a drop of latin blood in me. If tracks 1, 7, or 12 don't get you moving, you are either in a coma or under general anesthesia.

WELL I CANT SAY ANYTHING BUT,THAT YOU GUYS DID A GOOD JOB BY MAKING THIS C.D BECAUSE IT GETS EVERY ONE ON, AT ALL OF THE PARTIES I'VE BEEN TO . IT IS A REALLY GOOD C.D ESPECIALLY (CALIENTE,CALIENTE). KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK

WELL I CANT SAY NOTHING BUT,THAT YOU GUYS DID A GOOD JOB BY DOING OR MAKING THIS C.D CAUSE THAT I KNOW IT GETS EVERY ONE ON, AT ALL OF THE PARTIES I'VE BEEN TO . IT IS A BAD, LIKE MEANING A REALLY GOOD C.D SPECIALLY BY THAT MUSIC NAMED(CALIENTE,CALIENTE).WELL KEEP UP THE GOOD JOB."I LOVE YOU GUYS" BYE BYE."GOOD LUCK WITH EVERYTHING YOU GUYS DO.

Juan-Carlos Formell remembers or makes up a day, night, and dawn in Havana in this song cycle. I've been to Havana, seen waves crashing over the Malecon like the one on the cover of this CD, but have no idea if what's portrayed in song here ever existed, can exist in Castro's Communist "paradise," or will exist once Cuba is finally freed of him. Real or not, it's a unique, evocative sound, a natural evolution from the traditional Cuban music like that of Buena Vista Social Club. The rhythms are softened, extended, and often jazz-infused through judicious use of trumpets and trombones; the near-instrumental La Extrema Tristeza de la Tarde is a fine example. Formell's singing, sometimes almost spoken word, adds to the mood, particularly in the night songs where it can be both quietly insistent like the late breezes that come up on certain Caribbean nights and desolate with the longing those same nights can also inspire (Los Aretes de la Luna and, the single best song on the CD, Cuando Hable de la Noche).

This is simply a transporting CD, never more so than on this bleak, rainy Washington November day.

Okay, we know about the wonderful old-timers of Cuban music -- but what are the younger musicians up to? Singer/songwriter/guitarist Juan-Carlos Formell is in the vanguard of a new generation of Cuban musicians who are taking the music to the next level, by returning to the original acoustic sound of Cuban music, but in a completely new way that's dazzling in its originality. At a time when most Latin music is just party wallpaper, Juan-Carlos could be thought of as the James Taylor of Cuban music, with gorgeous songs, a subtle gentle voice, and amazing guitar work. His band is perfection: Jimmy Branly (from NG La Banda) on drums, Wicly Nogueras (also from NG) on congas, Carlito Puerto on acoustic bass, and Juan-Carlos on electric bass. Add to that the innovative inclusion of the great cajun accordianist Zachary Richard and pedal steel virtuoso Tommy Moran (of Dr John Fame) and you got a jewel of a recording that's in a category of its own. Try "Sweet Baby James" meets "Astral Weeks". I can't stop playing this record!

This recording is the best sample of what Cuban music is about. Juan Carlos Formel is with out questions an authentic artist with a unique style. I recommend this CD to everyone, buy it, you will love it!

Lo bello del arte es que produce un sinnumero de opiniones que pueden ser compartidas o discutidas. Para mi, Camilo Sesto es uno de los mas grandes trovadores que la musica en espanol ha dado. Sus letras no sirven solamente para pasar un momento agradable, sino que, y dependiendo de que momento de tu vida estes atravesando, uno se puede identificar con muchas de sus letras. Creo que la cancion "Quieres ser mi amante" tiene una de las letra absolutamente mas romanticas que nadie jamas haya escrito en nuestro idioma: "Decir te quiero decir amor, no significa nada... Las palabras sinceras las que tienen valor
son las que salen del alma... Y en mi alma nacen solo palabras blancas preguntas sin respuestas llenas de esperanza... Un amor como el m�o no se puede ahogar como una piedra en un r�o
Un amor como el m�o no se puede acabar
ni estando lejos te olvido Y no se puede quemar
porque est� hecho de fuego ni perder ni ganar
porque este amor no es un juego...".

Camilo Sesto is one of the greatest Spanish singers of all time.
He's one of certain kind of artist that you truly love or hate. But, one thing is true and that with his sweet and powerful voice he is actually a really great singer. He also wrote his own lyrics and his orchestrations are always wonderful. This compilation is for my taste, maybe the best in the market, with such great tracks as " Perd�name", "El amor de mi vida", "Algo de m�", "Vivir asi es morir de amor" and the Jesucristo Superstar hit "Gethsemane", in wich Camilo played the title role. If you like the spanish music you�ll like this album and if you speak spanisk you'll love it (A todos mis paisanos latinos).

Camilo Sesto hace anos que se retiro pero todavia vive entre nosotros como espina en el alma. Su liricas de este CD son inespicable yo solo conocia a camilo por su nombre pero me he dedicado a escuchar su canciones metafora por metafora. Este CD se lo recomiendo a todas la persona de cualquie edad. Para oir a camilo no que ser un viejo. Este Cd contiene su mejores existo como lo son El amor de mi vida, perdoname. Canciones que son escasa entre lo artistas. Le recomiendo que compre este CD y todos su CD. Por que su liricas son un aliento al alma. Que viva camilo Sesto y su canciones.

I could write volumes and volumes about how brilliant this CD is. I've amassed a collection of about 40 capoeira CDs and I'd have to say this is just about the best one.

From this CD, you can learn many of the traditional capoeira songs as sung by one of the most amazing voices that the genre has known. Enthusiasm, energy, and authenticity...it's all wrapped in Suassuna's voice.

Get it while it's still available. You won't regret it!

This is an excellent CD. Great sound quailty. Every track gets 5 stars. This CD is great for working out or sitting back and listening to. It makes you want to grab your berimbau and start playing along. This is a must have for all capoeiristas.

I have a number of different capoeira cds and Mestre Suassuna's discs all rank at the top. Any capoeirista would love this disc. He has a style all his own and it is magnificent.

Brannan Lane has created a wonderful, relaxing, CD. Amazing memories of the Barbados flood my mind whenever this CD is spinning. Sitting back, closing my eyes - I can picture the white sandy beach with the swaying palm trees - remembering all the "fun in the sun".

This CD is professionally done and captures your imagination of the Islands. It will bring back Caribbean memories and touch your soul if you have been to the islands - or it will create visions for you, if you haven't. But all in all - this CD gives you the Island feeling all around - and watch your feet - you will feel it tapping :)

Heather Baskey, Mississauga, Ontario - Canada

Brannan Lane has packed the entire Caribbean onto one small disc. From the bright,
bouncy opening track, "Welcome," to the sign off "Until Then," this CD will transport you
to an island getaway. What stands out about this project is the multitude of unique sounds
and instruments, from steel drums and pan flute to tropical birds, rain,
and waterfalls. Brannan creatively combines these sounds and instruments, enhancing a
varied selection of simple, pleasing melodies. Are you stressed out? Let the lilting rhythm
of the "Caribbean Sea" wash away those tension lines. Do you need a pick-me-up? The
percussive bonanza featured in "Fire Dance" will get you going on a positive note! Do you
need music to dream by? "Stars to the Sea" will take you to the ocean at night, as the
constellations pour themselves into the horizon. Have you visited the Caribbean before?
"Market Sq" will let you return, right back to the middle of a busy intersection with an
open market! I recommend putting this CD on "repeat play." Then try to avoid calling
your travel agent! --Jeff Bjorck

Brannan Lane's debut, CARIBBEAN DREAM, is a refreshing dose of fun and good cheer in a usually somber and dour musical genre. Using a vast array of electronic keyboards, Brannan has fashioned a sonic voyage to a tropical island, complete with steel drums and pan pipes. The music is relaxing even while it makes you want to get up and dance (which it does on some songs). The mood is bright, sunny, and full of life. In addition, the recording is very well-produced and performed. CARIBBEAN DREAM can stand toe-to-toe with many releases from major labels, and usually come out ahead. For sheer musical bravado and creativity, Brannan Lane has few equals this year. If you are looking for a good time, grab your checkbook or credit card and order this CD. You won't be disappointed!

I had the luck of hearing this young man play at a local Celtic festival several years ago, and he certainly knows what he's doing. I'm a former violinist (an injury stopped that), and I struggled with the balance between mechanically correct and being expressive. Kittel does not struggle with this; he just does both very, very well. The songs on this CD were amongst the ones I heard that day, and they were a joy to listen to. No worries, here, lads and lasses.

Fabulous! Jeremy Kittel is a world class fiddler that maintains your interest from the beginning to end. I can't wait for his next CD

I saw Jeremy at a festival in my hometown about a year and a half ago...and bought the CD on the spot after his performance. I truly enjoy listening to the CD, and would recommend it to anyone.

Volume 1 (blue w/ lava lamp) and Volume 2 (orange w/ popsicle (or ice-lolly for Brits)) are from England.

This "Volume 2" (green w/ lava lamp) refers to volume 2 of the German series (although I can't find the first one) and is not technically a part of the other series.

Whatever. All are definately worth owning.

The standouts on this import: Afterlife's "Cry", Morcheeba's "Fear and Love" and Urban Species "Blanket"

This is another great German electronica compilation, and while not as good as the first or third, it is still worth listening to. My only complaint is that they could have easily put more songs on it, but the ones they chose were great. This is just a good all-purpose album for any weather, at home or in the car. This series is more expensive than other chill-out CDs, but I think you get what you pay for--other CDs are cheaper but this has 2 solid hours of good music. It's very balanced between older jazzy classics and newer electronic sounds. Newcomers to electronica might not want to get this, but if you are into the genre, you can't find a better series of CDs than these.

The first one of the "Chill Out" series was the blue one: great one. The second was the yellow/orange one: I found it just as good as the first. But now the third end green one is simply magnificent. Tracks as "The Twin Peaks Theme", "Cry" or "Fear and Love" will caress your ears... You have to own the three of them, but especially this one!

Esta banda de ska nos presenta su produccion: companeros musicales, bajo la produccion de flavio oscar lusifidis gabras,este disco se lo recomiendo a toda la banda que le gusta de corazon el ska, y a los nuevos adeptos tambien, y para toda la banda que ya se canso de esperar por un nuevo disco de Maldita vecindad, panteon rococo retoma el camino que Maldita vecindad, al parecer abandono, y vaya que esta banda lo supo tomar y bastante bien, canciones que plantean los temas sociales y politicos, nos presentan la realidad que se vive en latinoamerica,como: La carencia,seguir bailando, globalizado, son algunos de los temas, con los que esta banda demuestra su fuerte potencial para quedarse como una de las favoritas, en este genero musical.

no solamente la musica esta bien chingona ska-mente hablando sino que las letras estan muy ingeniosas y te situan en la realidad de la pobreza que existe en algunas regiones y como se maneja con humor negro

este cd esta bien chido y la neta yo lo compraria entonces si les gusta el ska yo lo compraria porke tiene baile yo todo el pinche desmadre

At this stage in her career, Madonna was experiencing Top 10 success everywhere in the world with almost every song she released. She was the biggest female pop star in the planet, and still had no No.1 in the UK, even after the success of Like A Virgin and Material Girl. Her sixth single to be released in the UK was Crazy For You. Again, it wasn't a No.1, but peaked at No.2 in the UK in June 1985 and became her biggest UK hit to date. It spent 15 weeks on the UK chart and was also Madonna's second US No.1.

Crazy For You begins with a beat that is gorgeously melodic and slow. This continues for a while, until Madonna opens the song with the lines, "Swaying room as the music stars, strangers making the most of the dark. Two by two their bodies become one." I think these lyrics are excellent and paint vivid images in the mind, all while provoking memories of a time when you have felt the same as what Madonna is singing about. This first verse carries on, before the first chorus takes over. The second verse then begins with the lyrics, "Trying hard to control my heart, I walk over to where you are. Eye to eye we need no words at all!" Madonna's voice gradually becomes better as the song progresses, and this line is no exception. The song really begins to kick in after this with the second chorus as more variety is added to Madonna's vocal range and the beat becomes all the more dramatic. After this, the song then begins to wind down as Madonna's vocals dwindle and the backing singers take over. The song then bows out in perfect style as Madonna's vocals become lighter and the beat grows quieter, leaving you with a feeling that this is a classic Madonna number that you will never grow tired of hearing.

Crazy For You was the theme to the film Vision Quest. The film was a flop, whereas the song was a huge hit - and over time, it's obvious that the song has become more famous than the film. The video to the song features shots of the couple in the film as Madonna performs the song on stage in a small club, dressed in her iconic trashy look that dominated fashion in the early-1980's. All in all, along with Live To Tell and Take A Bow, Crazy For You is a classic Madonna ballad that grows better with time.

This is a 3/2/1991 UK-only release (reissue actually) from "The Imacculate Collection" album (greatest hits 1983-1990). The single charted for 8 weeks in the UK and peaked at #2 (very impressive considering that the original version peaked at the same position 6 years before - 1985).
The single includes:
1. CRAZY FOR YOU (The Immaculate Collection version) - almost identical to the original except it is shorter.
2. INTO THE GROOVE (remix) - the version taken from "You Can Dance" - 1987 remix album
3. KEEP IT TOGETHER (remix) - a dance remix available on the "Keep It Together" maxi-single released in 1990.

Obviously a must-have item for any Madonna collector.

HELLO. This single contains: Crazy for you (immaculate Collection Version), "Into the groove" (FADE) (Same version of the Album "You Can Dance", but fade) and Into the Groove (album version). The INCREIDBLE of this item, is that this is the ONLY Madonna's Picture CD more easily to get. So what you're waiting to buy?